The Top 6 Most Reputable Hearing Aid Brands

For some products you purchase, you may be loyal to a certain brand without even realizing it. Perhaps you always buy the same brand of peanut butter, or the same brand of paper towels.

Why is it that you purchase that particular brand-name item?

It may be because that is what you have always used, it is what your parents purchased, or you think it is the best choice.

Every single item we purchase has a brand behind it, even the generic brands. This is true for our food, household items, and even medical devices.

In the world of hearing aids, it is no different. There are a lot of brands out there, with companies behind them trying to promote their brand as “the best”.

When it comes to purchasing a hearing device, the brand name is a more important decision than it is when purchasing your paper towels. After all, this device is going to be used for daily communication, and that’s a big deal!

Unless you have spoken to a friend or family member about their own personal preference in hearing aid brand, you likely have no idea which to buy.

We will break down the most reputable brands of hearing aids to choose from.

But, what makes them reputable?

The reputation of hearing aid companies comes from 4 key areas:

The investment they make in research and development to produce quality and innovative products for better sound quality, fit, and function.

The training and customer service they provide to the hearing healthcare professionals recommending their products.

The impact of their marketing to portray the culture, philosophy, and mission of the company.

The history of the company.

The 6 Most Reputable Hearing Aid Brands

ReSound is a company founded in 1943 with it’s headquarters in Denmark. They are owned by the GN ReSound Group.

ReSound is credited for creating a new sound processing system with wide dynamic range compression (WDRC). They were also the first major hearing aid company to introduce the open-fit hearing device, which is still widely popular today.

In addition, Beltone and Interton brand hearing aids are a subsidiary of the GN ReSound Group.

In 2016 GN ReSound lost their contract with Costco as the supplier for their Kirkland Signature hearing aids which they held since 2013. Sivantos is now the Kirkland Signature 7.0 hearing aid supplier (see information on Sivantos below).

Founded in Denmark in 1904 by Hans Demant to help his wife Camilla who had a hearing impairment herself. Oticon was later run by his son William Demant and is still owned by the William Demant Holding Group today.

Oticon’s current philosophy is “People First”.

Oticon is credited for creating the world’s first digital hearing hearing instrument, the Digifocus.

Today, they focus on personalizing the fitting for each wearer for a more natural and effortless listening experience, which they call BrainHearing technology.

Their mission of “Life is On” means they aim to help people with hearing loss to interact freely, communicate with confidence, and live without limit. Phonak was founded in 1947 in Zurich. They are currently owned by the Sonova Holding AG company.

Phonak is a leader in the development of hearing solutions for children, specifically in-classroom radio FM technology and the Roger Pen.

Recently they are known for their lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aid, the Audeo B-R, and their CROS hearing aids.

Sivantos Group’s roots start in the Siemens company which was founded in 1878 by Werner von Siemens after he developed a telephone for people with hearing loss to better understand conversation on the phone.

In 1959 Siemens developed the first behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing device, the Siemens Auriculette.

They are most well-known for releasing the first digital hearing aid with two microphones (directional microphones), the first wireless hearing aid, and more recently the first waterproof digital hearing aid.

In January 2015 Siemens was sold to the Sivantos Group. In January 2016 Sivantos Group introduced its new hearing aid brand: Signia.

Sivantos Group is still the owner of the Siemens brand, as well as Audio Service, Rexton, and A&M Hearing.

Their philosophy “Hearing is our concern” began in 1967 with founder William F. Austin. Starkey has a strong commitment to philanthropy, donating to the Starkey Hearing Foundation every time a Starkey hearing aid is purchased. Through this foundation, they have given away over 1 million hearing aids to people around the world.

Starkey is the only american-owned and operated hearing aid provider, located in Minnesota.

Starkey is credited for creating the industry’s first in-canal hearing aid, as well as the first custom digital invisible hearing aid.

How to choose

Your hearing healthcare provider is likely much more knowledgeable of the different hearing aid brands than you are, and will develop certain preferences in brands over time. These preferences are based on

The technology capabilities of the product.

The dependability of the product and customer service team

The service and repair experience with the product.

It is important to listen to your hearing healthcare professional’s recommendations. Your individual needs will help to determine which of these hearing aid brands may be recommended for you.

While choosing a hearing aid brand is a more important decision than choosing your paper towel brand, in the end, the hearing aid is only as good as the person who is fitting it.

Regardless of the hearing aid’s brand, your best hearing will always come from having a trusting partnership between you and your hearing healthcare provider.

I purchased WIDEX for both ears perhaps 8 years ago – for some US$6000.00
Problems from day 1.
I have not been able to wear them (no good whatever in my hearing capacity)for 7-1/2 years.
Is there anything at all I can do… The original seller is not located where I live; and the present supplier where I am located, will not recognize product purchased elsewhere.
A real conundrum for me!! – –
I would appreciate your response!

Hi Norma
I’m sorry to hear that you have been having difficulty with your hearing aids. I would recommend you find a professional in your area that is willing to take a look at your hearing aids and make some needed adjustments. You may have to drive to the next town to get help if no one in your immediate location will service the devices.

Find a better fit”r … resound 3d have been a blessing to me … beating out the starkey halo 2 that I tried …. not sure of the iq … but again …. resound has been nothing short to SOUND! to me. I put my full email in the box just so you know. I have no connection to resound other than I really like their hearing aids as I am a profound deaf person.

When Costco ended its contract with Resound (which had made its store-brand Kirkland aids), Costco could no longer adjust my in-canal aids, which I loved. I got in-ear Phonax and heard less with them than with the old Resounds, so Phonax gave me BTE aids. I cannot understand clearly spoken English when the speaker is within 2 feet of me. I cannot understand TV. I don’t know if it’s the number of channels, the adjustment or that my hearing has suddenly diminshed greatly. I live in Mexico (for the last 18 months) and must understand Spanish, but I can’t even understand my native language!

I have been wearing Widex hearing aids for at least 5 yrs. and I am not happy with them but that is all my audiologist sells and he is associated with my ENT Dr. But I feel I would do better with an audiologist who has several brands to choose from.

Kevin, audiologists do not (and cannot per US Federal law) receive a “kickback.” They can receive a commission, depending on how the business is set up. Patients need to establish a good relationship with an audiologist they trust, just as they would with any other doctor. Most hearing devices can be demo’ed or used on a trial period (usually 1-2 weeks), and if you are unsure about the device an audiologist is recommending then ask for a demo first.

Yea…this is true….I have the same issue with my audiologist too. That does NOT help hearing issues. I keep getting Widex. And I hate them. They always have issues with dampness, irritation of mold and batteries are not lasting long. I like to see a CHOICE. Do you buy the first car you see?? Come on….this is NOT right. I have in my early yrs tried different brands like Phonek and they were great for ME. But since I moved across the globe it’s hard to find someone that sells that in my are. Like 100 Kim radius.

You need a reputable dealer. We have a local dealer who only carries Resound. I have turned against the product because of the dealer. He is a crook. He has multiple complaints to the BBB because of his policies and because of is practice of taking advantage of those who have saved to get help and then find themselves without an increase in hearing as well as a loss of their savings. So check your BBB before going to any dealer. I also want a dealer that carries multiple brands.

You can check out https://hearingaids.direct if you can’t find someone locally. I was able to get a pair for a family member within a week of ordering. They have audiologists who can program it if there is no one in your area but if you do have someone maybe they can discount it more and not include programming idk.

In the past 4 years, I’ve had ReSound, Oticon, Phonak, and Starkey. I really haven’t been able to hear effectively with any of them. Oh, and through that process, I’ve dealt with 3 different audiologists. Hearing aid are much more about selling devices than about helping people hear.

You don’t pay the whole price only for the hearing aids, but for the time that an audiologist spend with the patient for all the life of the hearing aids. This means that an audiologist will work with a single patient for about 15-20 hours in about 5 years of life of hearing aids and the time costs… So, hearing aids are not overpriced if you consider that a patient pays for getting a benefit for his hearing needs, and hearing aids represent only a piece of the price

and a reputable dealer will continue to help you with those expensive hearing aids when he/she upgrades to another level of product. My local dealer just dumps people and quits helping with their hearing aids after he is no longer selling those. I can’t get replacement ear pieces. He actually walks off with the old ones when you are taking another pair out for trial. I asked and got mine back! Or I would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle as the new version of Resound has metal on the the piece that goes into the ear canal and was rubbing my ear raw before 2 or 3 hours had passed. And, I did not hear any better than before. I would love to find someone to service what I have until I can get an upgrade that is necessary for me to hear more clearly.

With all due respect I think the 80-100% Mark up over what identical aid that can bought on line for is a lot to pay for 15-20 hours of adjustments. Personally the number of adjustments I have required on the last paid of aids I purchased after programming could be counted on one hand. Keep in mind the on line seller is making a profit as well.

Hi Allie
Phonak, Widex, and Starkey all make BICROS hearing aids. I have had experience with the Phonak and it has been around the longest so that is what I would recommend. However, none of the BICROS devices are available as rechargeable. The Phonak hearing aids are rechargeable but not the BICROS.

I use Phonak rechargeable hearing aids. If the power fails in your house for a duration of days (we live in a hurricane active area) your hearing aids will fail after about 36 hours I believe. If you do much traveling it is a nuisance to have to carry that charger around, along with those for your smart phone and tablet not to mention finding enough outlets in your hotel room. Batteries are cheap at Costco or online and last for a week without attention. I won’t buy a rechargeable again.

This is a good point Melvin. There are some rechargeable hearing aids (i.e. Oticon, Widex, Unitron, Starkey) that can be both rechargeable and still use disposable batteries when you are traveling or lose power. Might be something for you to consider in the future.

Hello Lindsey Banks, I’m 85, severe hearing loss i.e. discrimination as well as hearing of speech are problematical and require hearing in both ears on telephone. Listening/hearing in only one ear on phone disturbs my brain/mental balance. Need to replace old Siemans Hearing Aids.

My first aides were made by Starkey and I was pleased until I had one drop off into a lake when retrieving something. My fault! Now I have Oticon and find them to be a great aide. I tried the brain technology for a demo (about a week) and thought it was much better. However, my aides are only 2 + years old and I can’t see spending another 5-6 grand at this time, but will take a look at the newest- next time.

All the comments above are in the negative category and express what I have heard from those I know who wear hearing aids! The devises are too expensive to be so iffy in acceptance! Too much to pay out of pocket for a chance. Don’t know if I should even start the process.

Hi Bill,
I can understand your hesitation about pursuing hearing aids. Many people feel the same way as you, however many people also have very positive experiences about their hearing aids. I believe that a hearing aid is only as good as the person fitting and servicing it. Make sure to see an Audiologist in your area that you like (it may take a visit to more than 1) and at least give it a try! You will be glad you did!

Hello David, I just read your note 9/16/17, re: Obamacare and the mandate to cover hearing aids. We too have United Health Care through AARP but I’ve been advised that hearing aids are not covered, nor are they covered through Medicare. If I’m missing something, I’d sure love to hear from you.

obamacare does not mandate hearing aid coverage by insurance companies. get your intel correct before making an misleading statement, that will only get people confused more when purchasing hearing aids.

I can attest to comment made by Lindsey Banks, AuD referring to a hearing aid ‘is only as good as the person fitting and servicing it’. I love my hearing aids, mild-moderate hearing loss bilaterally, however have had grave issues with adjustment settings made by different audiologists. Initial fit was awesome, however after 18 months one aid needed to be repaired and the company replaced the pair. The original audiologist had left the practice. New aids, new adjustments?? Why the original settings in my record were not duplicated is beyond me. I went for multiple adjustments and after the fourth time, gave up on the expertise or lack thereof of the audiologist. After a year of searching I finally located the original audiologist where she was able to adjust, in a matter of minutes! to the original settings or very similar. She found settings for two alternative programs that offered little if anything to what I might have found of benefit. Of three audiologists only one was sensitive and caring enough to hear me, the wearer. Once again I was able to hear my husband clearly, he was quick to point that out!, I could hear my car alarm beep, I could understand the dialogue at the theater. etc.
Yes, it is extremely important that your audiologist or technician is caring, concerned, willing to comprehend and appreciate the needs of the hearing aid wearer, and have patience. After the expense, the experience of hearing is worth gold!!!

Debra,who is your audiologist and where does she practice? Seems like she’s an angel who has complete understanding of the client’s needs. I have Oticon aids but still have problems with clarity and background noise. Even after my audiologist has made several adjustments, I still have problems.

Let me assure you that once you have them (and bite the bullet of cost) you will enjoy them. It is so nice to hear the birds in the am, the rustle of wind in the trees,and the normal sounds of everyday living, many you have not realized were gone until you get the aides. I even hear my wife (most of the time). Seriously, you will find they make a huge difference if you are advised to get them. I have no problem letting others know I have a hearing deficiency if I don’t hear them. You will experience (most likely) some difficulty when out at a restaurant and there are a lot of people talking. I can block rear sounds by a press of a button, but if things are really loud you’ll just have to allow for it. You adjust, and after wearing them for a few months you will realize how much you missed when you take them out at night and wake up the next day realizing you are not hearing certain sounds . If your hearing is at a point where you truly need them, and you can afford them, get them. You’ll be glad you did!

Just found out that I have lost all hearing in one ear due to a meniere’s attack just a few days ago. I just got my first hearing aids less than 2 months ago. Thankfully they offer a 6 months no questions return policy.

Does anyone make bicros hearing aids with Android bluetooth? How about bluetooth for television?

I have been wearing hearing aids since 2002. Currently on my 3rd pair (Unitron) and they have been far from trouble free. My biggest complaint is the background noise. Also, they are too expensive. The replacements are $7000 for a pair.

I want my hearing aids to be digital, wireless, and compatable with my Android phone. Any recommendations? I have a significant hearing loss.

I bought a pair of Widex hearing aids in New York in 2016, and relocated to California later that year. I have a lot of trouble hearing conversation in a moderately noisy (no music) dining room, and am starting to look around for something else. An audiologist here recommended Oticon, which he says was the first to recently introduce digital noise suppression, as opposed to directional microphones (which I believe is what my Widex have). Does that sound right?

Well
Were using Wiex
The Audiologist was good and compassionate
He fitted the hearing aid and had immense patience
He has found a better job in England
The replacement is not as good
Since Amplifon outlet is located nearby
I can’t go elsewhere for repairs
After expiry of Warranty I have a feeling the company is milking the user

I am ready to switch to an iPhone connected hearing aid and am exploring options. I have moderately severe hearing loss with difficulty distinguishing consonants PLUS my husband has Parkinson’s Disease and he voice quality and volume is diminishing significantly. I am interested in not just normalizing my hearing but also amplifying his voice. Suggestions welcome. I am checking out various possibilities.

Is Miracle Ear a hearing aid dispenser only or do they also sell their own brand? One is close to my home so if I have to revisit multiple times it would be the most convenient. Any experience with them?

Miracle ear is made by the company Sivantos, which are also the makers of Signia and Rexton hearing aids. Miracle Ear is a private-label hearing ais which means that if you purchase a Miracle Ear from a Miracle Ear store, they are the only ones that can program these (their software is not available to other private practice hearing healthcare providers). This can cause some problems if you moved away from the Miracle Ear store or did not like the service they were providing.

I’ve been wearing hearing aids since I was a teen in the 70’s. My hearing loss is classed as profound by my audiologist. The best pair of hearing aids I’ve ever had were my current Zounds Potenz, BTE rechargeables which I got five years ago. Unfortunately, I need to replace one of them and Potenz is no longer offered. The new set was price quoted at $3000.00. I don’t believe this brand is widely available but would recommend Zounds. I’ve had Oticons, Beltones, Miracle-Ear and 1-2 other brands. This was my first pair of rechargeables and first pair of BTE’s. I went to Zounds because of BOGO pricing, both aids for $2000.00. In five years, I’ve only spent $3.47 on a new set of rubber canal plugs. Once a year, I go in for a hearing check and they change out the batteries. I did have to return a bad charger unit which they replaced. I hope my experience can help someone.

I’m looking into hearing aids but I find that the models sold through doctors are all extremely over-priced. Most likely because they know an insurance of some form is covering the costs. When you can make a smartphone that is a complete computer, transmitter with audio and a video screen for 500 bucks, why should a hearing amplifier which is just a processor chip with a battery and an earpiece cost many thousands? I’ll probably look into the devices advertised as “not hearing aids” but really are that are a couple 100 dollars. It’s a shame how these “reputable” companies are taking advantage of people with hearing disability.

I have worn hearing aids for about 12 years. I’m currently 68 and have high frequency loss both ears, worse in left ear. I’ve bought 2 sets from Costco, but from above they have a new supplier, paid $4,000.00 plus for each pair that I bought. I have bought in the past 4 years 2 sets through my supplemental medicare provider, cost of under $1,000.00 per pair. I had last year a Starkey recommendation and went to an audiologist who quoted me around $7,000.00 for the hearing aids, noting that I could return them within 75 days for a full refund. I told them I needed an appreciable difference between what I had and what they were prepared to sell me. I suggested they provide the hearing aids, I’d give them a post dated check for them to hold for 2 weeks; if I didn’t return the hearing aids, they could then cash the check. They didn’t find that acceptable, which told me that they didn’t believe that I would get an appreciable difference in hearing by purchasing from them.

I have moderate hearing loss. I saw an audiologist five years ago, who recommended Widen. They were $6000.00. Initially, I complained of background noise on the right. She reshaped the earpiece and they were fine. A remote came with them so I could adjust the volume, which I really liked. After four years the audiologist moved to another location. The audiologist, who took her place, insisted I needed new hearing aids because after all these were old and the newer ones on the market were much better. I was immediately turned off by this. Also, I was given a guarantee of free batteries for as long as I had the hearing aids. There were eight batteries in each pack. Now, with the new audiologist, there are only four. The last time I went in for a hearing check, he said he wanted to take my hearing aids to another room to clean them. I told him that they better come back with nothing wrong with them. When he brought them back he told me that he shaved the right one because it was misshapen and it must have been uncomfortable for me. It was saved that way on purpose by the original audiologist in order to block out the background noise. I wanted to cry. Again, he tried selling me new ones. I left his office in disgust. That was a couple of months ago. The other day, I had no sound on the right and changed the battery….still no sound. Took the hearing aids to someone down south, because I am away from home for a bit. When he saw the hearing aids, he kept repeating Widex over and over. He took me in another room and checked it out. I had the left one in my ear, which was working fine. All of a sudden, there was nice sound and remote stopped working. It was almost like he switched on something and everything died. With that. He said he could sell me two new hearing aids for $1500.00 each. I left. No hearing aids now for four days. I am paranoid. I don’t trust them…..

I’m sorry you have been having a negative experience. When using a certain brand hearing aid and you want to switch providers, one thing I recommend is that you use the manufacturer’s website to find a provider in your area that is familiar with your brand. Here is the Widex link: https://www.widex.com/en-us/shopfinderpage

My wife has slight to moderate hearing lost (depending on decibel). We went to an audiologist, and he recommends Starkey. From what I am reading, they are not that great…but from what I am reading, no hearing aid is.
I do not mind paying $3k for 2 hearing aids with Bluetooth tech, as long as my wife will be able to hear, not have people know she has hearing aids (her want), and not have to send back for repairs all the time.

The audiologist she saw, suggests every 6 month visit, that way he can clean it on a regular basis, and make sure all is well. He also said we would have a 4 year warranty on the aids, and that they normally last about 5 years.
Is a 5 year durability normal…I remember my grandmother in the 80s having her same hearing aid for years (much longer than 5)…

I have my Starkeys since 2009, nearly 9 year’s. Price was $5200. Best I can remember. Both gave up the ghost within the past week. My local aud. that sold them had them refurbished to like new for $289. ea. With the exception of the tube going to my ears breaking they have been perfect ! I’m about ready to order a new set and keep these for backup. I wouldn’t consider any thing but Starkey.

I have my Widex since 2009. They worked well for 9 years. They still ok, and I am happy with them, but my Audiologist suggests to get a new pair with better/modern technology. (I have moderate sensorineural hearing loss)

Have had Starky and as far as I am concerned, they are junk. 3 different receivers have been installed in 3 years, and the last one lasted 3 days. Every time I go for an adjustment or repair it lasts 3-7 days then stops working. Going back to peace and quiet without the damn aids. Out $6200 and they suggest new ones, latest models for $6400. My answer is

I saw a local audiologist two days ago. He was very thorough and took a lot of time with me. He recommended an EarQ brand, top of the line hearing aid. I don’t know the model exactly. I am supposed to be fitted for it on Tuesday 10/31/17. After my appointment I came home and have been doing a lot of research to find out about EarQ brand. There is virtually no product reviews or independent information. I have concluded that it must be a private labeled product, but I cannot determine who manufacturers their hearing aids. I have kind of come to the conclusion that probably a variety of different manufactures make their heaing aids. Can you enlighten me at all on this?

I’m in the process of trying to select my first pair aids and have found it much like trying to buy a mattress. Am strongly considering Costco’s Kirkland Signature 8.0 (Rexton Emerald) for $1600 per pair. Liked very much the Widex tried out at ENT doctor’s office but they were $6,500. The more I read/study/research the more confused I become. The only thing that has made any sense is …”it’s not the aid, it’s how well it’s fit and adjusted”. But still, this whole industry has become a snake oil market.

I was diagnosed with moderate hearing loss in both ears four months ago (sudden onset—in my late 30’s). I have a pair of ReSound BTE made for iPhone hearing aids and I LOVE them! My audiologist has programmed a few settings in my app so I can filter background noise, amplify human voices in a noisy environment, and there’s a “live listen” mode which is like a microphone. You put your phone near whoever is talking and it amplifies their voice. I haven’t had any problems in four months except that the right hearing aid will screech in really noisy environments. I open the battery door and close it, which helps reset whatever is going on. I have an amazing audiologist who isn’t in it for the money. I paid $4250 for the pair, and insurance covered $3,000.

My only complaint is that they don’t come in hot pink or lime green! I chose the really pretty blue color instead. I’m so happy to be able to hear and do my job with confidence again.

That is great Elle! Many people only hear the horror stories about hearing aids but there are a lot of very positives about them for a lot of people. They can be life-changing in a good way! Thank you for sharing!

I am deaf in one ear (since childhood), but now have SSHL in what was my “good Ear”. The hearing loss is moderate and I am considering a hearing aid. My question and concern is I have a lot of “ECHO” when I hear my own voice, or if something is too loud. For instance, some voices just echo a lot. I can’t stand the organ in church – so much echo the sound is completely distorted. Will a hearing aid help get rid of the echo??? It’s not tinnitus.

You have hyperacusis, a condition that means ORDINARY sounds cause pain. This often occurs with hearing loss, sometimes with tinnitus, sometimes not. You need a good audiologist to work with. Sometimes you can adapt to hearing more sound, or adjust your hearing aid for comfort. Good luck!

I have been wearing Oticon Alta (pro?), which in December 2013 were the high-end Oticons. They were trouble free until about 2 months ago. Oticon replaced one of them for $250. Now I am having trouble with the other one . . . don’t know whether to just buy a new pair . . . reading about all the trouble people had, I guess I should feel lucky. Or perhaps people have just chosen this forum to complain.

I didn’t see too much about Oticon on this page. Thoughts on their new options?

I have been looking into hearing aids and shopped all the major brands. I have also checked into Beltone, which impressed me but I can’t find much literature on how they rate among the top brands. I have a friend who purchased them as a replacement for his first set and he is very pleased. Please advise.
Thank you

Hi John, great question. Beltone is a hearing aid franchise company owned by GN ReSound, so you are actually getting a ReSound (or very similar to) hearing aid when you purchase a Beltone hearing aid. One thing to keep in mind is that because a Beltone hearing aid is a private label, you will have to continue receiving care and adjustments for that hearing aid at a Beltone office, as you will not have the flexibility to see any hearing healthcare provider for assistance with that hearing aid. It’s important that you have a good relationship with the provider at that Beltone office before purchasing a Beltone hearing aid because that is who you will have to follow through with as long as you have that hearing aid.

I have only worn Beltone hearing aids!! And I love them. I’ve worn hearing aids for over 15 years, and just purchased my new ones ( the last pair I bought 9 years ago) My new hearing aids I can use with my IPhone with Bluetooth, rechargeable batteries, the clarity is awesome. The care I receive in the office is great, my hearing loss is very profound . In my 15 years with Beltone , I have only had one that had the be sent out to do a repair on.. my last pair had absolutely no issues, just regular check ups and maintenance in the office.. never any charges for that service!

I have Siemens hearing aids for the past few years. They were recommended by my audiologist. They have provided only a minimal (if any at all) improvement to my hearing. My problem that with hearing is clarity. For example, someone could be saying “teach” and I hear “peach”.
I have moved out of the area since but have been back several time to see my audiologist. He adjusted the aids every time and they seemed OK while I was in the office. However, when I came out of his office and in real life situations, I experienced the same problem.
I feel that the price of hearing aids, along with prescription eye glasses and dugs, is way too excessive and hearing aids are not worth it for the little improvement they may make. At least in my case.

I bought a Widex Sensoplus in Mexico city 2004 and i still use this obsolet device for more than a decade! with no problems! I dont have tried new widex or other brands models because they are expensive, basic models are great.

I have been wearing a Starkey BTE hearing aid for the past 6 years. They will need to be replaced soon and I would like to consider all options. I have profound hearing loss at high frequencies and almost normal hearing at lower frequencies. I have been told that this will present some challenges in selecting the appropriate hearing aid. I read your article regarding the top choices for sever hearing loss. Do you think those still apply in my situation?

I am considering Costco. They have trained audiologists and carry many of the top brands and prices seem to be better.

Hi Ned,
I wouldn’t consider the severe hearing aids we posted about for you since you have normal hearing in the low frequencies. I would consider a hearing aid with some form of frequency lowering technology such as the Oticon Opn, Phonak Audeo, or Starkey IQ. I would also recommend you see a private audiologist that understanding frequency lowering technology. Since you have a more challenging loss to fit, the hearing aid is only going to be as good as the professional that fits it.

After reading the entire set of postings I feel that i have gained a a good appraisal of my feelings.Having owned a set of entry level Bernafon BTE for last 8 years [and been reasonably happy with them]I am now trying a set of Costco Kirkland[rexton].
The staff at Costco have tried very hard to help me, And I believe that they are good, but my speech recognition has not improved –quote Mark dec. – My problem that with hearing is clarity. For example, someone could be saying “teach” and I hear “peach”.
Maybe that I am not going to find anything better, and that I have ‘got what I have got’

I’d like to suggest something that passed along to me when I told the audiologist that I had trouble with vowels and consonants. She passed me a CD called LACE which stands for Listening and Communication Enhancement. You simply put it in, play it, interact with it, and hopefully find after going thru the program your recognition improves. (I am due to review it again as I notice I am not picking up conversation as well lately. It will run on Apple or Microsoft or DVD players. It is a home based self-paced, adaptive auditory training program designed to improve listening and communication skills. I see on the disk box has what I assume is the company -Neurotone, Inc. I thought I remembered hearing that the University of Mich had something to do with this but don’t quote me on this. I hope you can locate it as it definitely helped me. Maybe check with your audiologist!

Am using hearing aids for over 40 years now. As for me, 1 thing always outstands everything else and that is ‘sound quality’. Does not matter how much features a device has. Does not matter how well known a brand is. The quality of the sound is what I listen to and what I decide upon. I hate clipping, I hate to hear compression when sounds get louder. A good device gives me a natural fealing, without constant whistling, without hearable volume adjustments and without decrease of quality due to compression.

And in spite of all developnets, unfortunately this still is something that many hearing aids fail to deliver properly. Especially in the lower segments of the market.
I don’t mind having a bit bigger device behind my ear (used to, 30 years ago ;-) if this increases quality drastically. A set of in-earphones of 100 dollar gives awesome quality of sound. Fine… increase the size of the device a bit an put it in. For example ;-)

I am a veteran and get my hearing aids through the VA. The brand I took was Starkey invisible in Canal have not had to go back to the audiologist , not even once. And the nicest thing about them is that they are free !

I am 74 years of age and have no connection or interest in any hearing aid manufacturer. I bought the $5000 in the ear hearings aids years ago from a local well known center. Had them for 8 years. In the shop every 6 months. Accidentally dropped one of them. $150 each occasion because they had to be shipped from Michigan to NY for repair. When I was quoted $6000 for a new pair I decided to look elsewhere. I ended up only needing one because I am deaf in my right ear. High volume Tinnitus. I bought a Rexton ( over the ear) at Costco ($1300) over 4 years ago. Happy with it. No repairs needed during that time. Recently started having problems with it. It is difficult getting an immediate appointment with them. You pay the higher price at the well known shops because they do heavy advertising. Marketing. Followup visits. Technology changes so fast in 4 years. For the better. Fast forward. I was recently awarded 100% disability after 50 years and being in the Vietnam War. In 2 weeks I will be getting free Phonak aids from VA. The audiologist says I can hear better with 2 instead of only the left one I currently wear. We will see? HEAR?

A 4-year old needs a specific hearing aid, children at that age should not be wearing the same hearing aid that an adult would wear. Regardless of the manufacturer I would verify with the audiologist that it is a pediatric hearing aid.

Any experience with Eargo? The idea of allowing low frequencies to pass through and only amplifying the high frequencies is interesting, and from what I have seen are the only rechargable invisible in ear aid

Hi Don
You are correct about them being the only rechargeable invisible in the ear (IIC) hearing aid, however there are a lot of hearing aids that allow the low frequencies to pass through and only amplify the high frequencies. They are called open-fit hearing aids.

Can anyone make a recommendation for hearing aids that best address low frequency hearing loss? I have had ReSound custom molded ITE, which are several years old. The sound quality has never been near natural and the audiologist finally had to flat-line the adjustment of the frequencies to prevent feedback. The audiologist was very thorough as we tried multiple types of hearing aid devices; however, sounds appear to be muffled instead of crisp–this could be due my low frequency loss. If anyone suffers low frequency loss and provide any input, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

I have read all above comments and am more confused than ever! I have profound hearing loss-left ear=80 and down below 110, right ear 80, down to 105 on audiogram. I am 77 and present hearing aids no longer work for me. Audiologist suggested cochlear implant, do not want! Any suggestions on brands to try? Thank you for any imput.

I currently have a pair of Miracle Ear hearing aids that are 9 years old – believe they were made by Siemens – which is now Sivantos. I am 77 years old and my higher range hearing is really bad. The current aids have worked fine most of the time, but visited the Miracle Ear local shop yesterday and the audiologist had me try on the new aids, the Genius, fully digital. I scored 70% with the current aids, and of course 100% with the new ones. The test was the short 10 question test. The ones I missed were all in the higher range. With trade in, two new ones would set me back $3,400. Is this common, or was I being “set-up” a bit with the test and them knowing their new product would out perform the older aids.

I can’t say for sure, not knowing what exact testing they did on you. However, I would suspect you to score significantly better with the new technology versus your 9 year-old aids. I would say it is likely a good investment for your hearing!

I have moderate hearing loss- “cookie bite” and am choosing a new device. My audiologist is recommending the Uniton Moxi Pro which is not one of your recommended brands. she say the phonak B90 is not worth the extra money. I am after a rechargeable one but was not sure which brands other than unitron have the interchangeable batteries? I am wanting the best quality I can get and will need a mic as I am a physiotherapist and clip it under the bed when patients are talking to the floor!

Hi Debbie,
You will see under the Phonak info on this page that we do mention the Unitron brand. Unitron and Phonak are sister companies, and while Phonak is the more known brand, Unitron is still very good and comparable. I would agree with your audiologist’s opinion.

I was recently diagnosed with (moderate) high frequency hearing loss. All other aspects of my hearing are fine. I have a hard time hearing women’s voices, and speech clarity is also a big issue for me. For instance, I constantly have to ask my female boss to repeat what she is saying, even when I am standing close to her. I would also be one to hear the word “peach” when it was really “teach”. I have been using Resound Linx 3D hearing aids for about three weeks now. They are supposed to be the top of the line latest technology, yet I don’t feel as if I hear voices any louder or clearer than I do without them. It seems as if most sounds are amplified, but not voices. Most certainly not my bosses voice. The hearing aids also have issues with the blue tooth feature connecting to the Smart 3D app that I downloaded on my android phone. The hearing aids have been adjusted a few times already to no avail. I am getting ready to try another set of the same aids to see if something is wrong with the aids I have. The audiologist told me that if I am still unable to hear voices louder & clearer, that she would order a different brand for me. So my question is, which brand (if any) works best for high frequency hearing loss and improves speech clarity? Thank you!

I am in my 60’s and have moderate to sever hearing loss in high frequency sounds. I have no problem hearing in the quite room in small group, or watching TV. However, I have extreme difficulty hearing in noisy rooms, restaurants, and at social events. This is going to be my first purchase of the hearing aid. I have spent a lot of time reading about various hearing aids from all major manufacturers. Unfortunately I have not be able to do a comparison for my need in better hearing in noisy environment. Audiologist I visited was not able to tell me why she would recommend one brand vs another (both premium brand names). Do any of the brands and premium models do a better job in noisy environment?

I am sorry, but I do not trust any hearing aid providers at all. Each provider is akin to a car salesman. They are all pushing the hearing aid they are currently marketing (or getting commission for). They do not care about the user. Just making the sale.

I have worn an aid since I was 14. I am now 54. So yes I do speak with experience. I have hated hearing aids since day one. Nothing but grief. Spent thousands on aids over the years. I have now made the decision not to wear an aid any more. At this stage of my life, I can not justify $1500 – $300o on a hearing aid.

Yes, I can not listen to music anymore, Yes, I can not hear conversations. But I would rather take this route, then spend another couple of thousand on an hearing aid sold to me by someone only interested in a sale. The article states, seek the advice of your health provider… They are not impartial, far from it.

I don’t believe my audiologist is biased, or dishonest. I just don’t think she has enough technical knowledge to know the real differences between each competing model. I personally have not been able to find any technical data on any of the hearing aids that allows you to make a feature by feature comparison. Their websites are just bunch of marketing jargon, and useless video clips. There is also no lab that I am aware of objectively comparing competing hearing aids. That’s why I was hoping someone on this forum, based on their knowledge, could recommend a make and model that handles noisy environment better than their competitor.

I got my first hearing aids from a local business that had been in business for 40 plus years.The cost for a pair of Intell-i-Hear waqs just under $5000 with my AAA discount. That company got in trouble with the state for how they were marketing to seniors and eventually sold out. When I went in for cleanings, hearing test or adjustments it seemed that the staff was always new people and service was terrible. In need of replacement I went to my local Costco. Since I suffer with Menieres bi-laterally with the right side being the worst the Audioligist took extra time with my testing and even gave me a demo of what new aids could do for me while still in the test booth. She suggested that I go with the Resound R.I.E. and programmed a demo pair for me to try, I was amazed as that day my Menieres was causing all sounds to be like an overdriven speaker, but the program she loaded into the demo was very clear. When I asked about the Kirkland brand she explained that the sound quality would be different b ut she could set-up a demo for those also and let me hear the difference. I went with the Resounds and am very happy with the choice and as my wife said saving almost 50% over the cost of my first pair is nothing to regret. As many others have said, a trained Audiologist is the most important part of getting hearing aids so find someone you feel comfortable with that can answer your questions and will take the time to work with you for testing, fitting and any problems that may come up.

Went to Audiologist #1, got a sales pitch for Starkey. Regular retail $xxxx, discount $xxx . Tried in office & could hear better. Went to Aud. #2, said any of the top 6 mfgs are pretty comparable. Told him want rechargable, BTE. #2 suggested a Phonak – he said he does not have a lot of experience with Starkey. I saw some reviews & Starkey was not high on the list. I need to make a decision this week – any opinions? HELP!! (looking to get group 1 or group 2, so will be spending some $$)

I am using Starkey first cic and now bte. I find starkey suits me more than others. I have used Seimen but it was failure. I used widex. It also did it serve my purpose. Last I took Starkey. CIC was no good. I have now taken Starkey BTE for 49999/-. This is much better. We should remember hearing once lost cannot be original.

My insurance only covers a few basic hearing aid models. My audiologist (at a major university medical center) has recommended Phonak VitroV50 or Opticon Alta from the models covered. My hearing loss is across all frequencies from -50dB at the lower frequencies to -60dB at 4k+. Which of these models would be best for me?